NewsOK: Oklahoma City News, Sports, Weather & Entertainment

Oklahoma Capitol Boxscore for Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018

The advocacy group for state employees says the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department should spend more money on improving state parks rather than building a new executive office building.

"Tourism has allocated more than $9 million for a new Oklahoma City office building even though many tourism facilities need repairs and updating," said Sterling Zearley, executive director of the Oklahoma Public Employees Association. "By investing in state parks instead of executive offices the state can ensure affordable and meaningful recreation is available statewide.”

In response, the department said that when the First National Center forced tenants to move out, it began sharing office space with its partner agency, the Department of Commerce. It has since worked for three years to find a cost-effective solution.

"There is state statute that emphasizes that state assets should be utilized over renting space from the private sector," said spokeswoman Leslie Blair. "The Capitol Complex serves the citizens of the State and by locating in this central location, taxpayers can more fully access State services. Tourism is a logical partner with Commerce and a new building allows the state to not pay rent to the private sector."

She also noted that the $9 million in bonds can only be used for construction of a new office building.

"Over the past six years, we have spent approximately $60 million dollars to address needs that have been deemed priorities by the leadership of the State Parks Department. We plan to spend between $10 million and $11 million this year," Blair said.

State question launches statewide ad campaign

Marsy's Law, which will appear on the ballot as State Question 794 in November, is airing commercials on television ahead of the vote.

If adopted, the proposal would create a crime victims' bill of rights, as supporters describe it, to ensure crime victims have the right to a voice in the judicial process, the right to be present in judicial hearings and the right to be made aware of upcoming hearings or changes in their offenders' status, to full restitution and other protections.

Study on police video footage scheduled

An Oklahoma Senate committee will discuss storage and retention of law enforcement video on Thursday.

(Story continued below...)

State Sen. Wayne Shaw, R-Grove, will present his interim study before the Senate General Government Committee from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in room 230 of the Oklahoma Capitol.

Dale Denwalt, Capitol Bureau

Dale Denwalt

Dale Denwalt has closely followed state policy and politics since his first internship as an Oklahoma Capitol reporter in 2006.
He graduated from Northeastern State University in his hometown of Tahlequah. Denwalt worked as a news reporter in...
Read more ›